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Festival Line-Up
Cead Mile Failte
One Hundred Thousand Welcomes… Join us on March 20-21, 2026 for performances by…
Headline Performers
Lúnasa
FRIDAY MARCH 20th
8:00 pm - Headline Concert, Roundhouse
Best Western Dunmar Inn Headline Stage
Friday, 5:15 pm - Mini Concert w/Q&A - Machine Shop Water of Life Main Stage
Named for an ancient Celtic harvest festival in honour of the Irish god Lugh, Lúnasa was formed in 1997 from members of some of the greatest Irish groups of the previous decade, an early review from Folk Roots magazine describing the band as an “Irish music dream team”. From the start, the band’s complex arrangements and unique sound reshaped the boundaries of traditional music and energized audiences the world over. Critical acclaim followed, The Irish Echo describing the band as the “the hottest Irish acoustic band on the planet”; MOJO magazine named the band “the new gods of Irish music,” adding that “nobody since the Bothies has wielded such a thrilling rhythmic underlay.” Billboard raved that “anybody who listens can’t help but find them contagious.”
Having since sold over a quarter of a million records and performed over 2,500 shows across 36 countries, Lunasa has won multiple awards and become one of the most influential bands in the history of traditional music. Collaborations with singers Natalie Merchant, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, and Tim O’Brien and high-profile concerts at The Hollywood Bowl, New York’s Carnegie Hall, Glastonbury Festival and Bercy Arena Paris helped broaden the band’s audience and cement it place at the forefront of contemporary Irish music.
Lunasa’s current lineup features: Trevor Hutchinson, who achieved fame as the bassist with the The Waterboys: piper Cillian Vallely was a member of Riverdance and recorded with Bruce Springsteen: Flute player Kevin Crawford, considered one of Ireland’s greatest flute players, was a member of Moving Cloud: award-winning fiddler Sean Smyth, who performed with Donal Lunny’s legendary Coolfin and accordionist Alan Kelly; Colin Farrell is a multiple award winning fiddler, who has toured with Project West, Grada and Michael McGoldrick: Guitarist Ed Boyd made a name for himself in the UK folkscene with bands such as Flook, Kate Rusby, and Cara Dillon.
SATURDAY MARCH 21st
6:00 pm - Headline Concert, Roundhouse
Best Western Dunmar Inn Headline Stage
Saturday, 12:15 pm - Mini Concert w/Q&A - Machine Shop Water of Life Main Stage
Caroline Keane and Tom Delany are a dynamic and highly acclaimed musical duo, renowned for their virtuosic musicianship and heart-warming stage presence. Since they began playing together in 2010, while both studying at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, they have created a distinctive and compelling musical partnership. With their unique blend of traditional Irish music, folk influences, and contemporary flair, Caroline and Tom have captivated audiences across Europe, Canada, the United States, and Australasia.
Both highly skilled multi-instrumentalists, Caroline and Tom bring an exceptional level of artistry to their performances. Caroline is a masterful concertina player, known for her intricate, expressive playing, while Tom’s bold and lively style on uilleann pipes, bouzouki, and guitar has earned him a reputation as one of the leading musicians in the folk scene. Their performances span a wide range of styles—from lively dance music to emotive airs and powerful songs with heartfelt lyrics. Their music reflects their personalities: fun, vibrant, and filled with heart and soul.
In 2017, Caroline and Tom released Never Say Goodbye, Say Good Luck, an album that showcases their unique musical partnership. The album captures the essence of their sound—warm, expressive, and full of creative energy—and has been praised for its depth and musicality.
The duo’s chemistry is evident on stage, where their connection creates a captivating and intimate atmosphere. Their performances are marked by a perfect balance of energy and emotion, bringing audiences on a journey through the heart of Irish music, while adding their own creative twist.
Caroline and Tom’s duo is ideal for international festival and theatre programming, offering a blend of virtuosic musicianship, engaging storytelling, and an infectious stage presence. They are available for bookings worldwide and are eager to bring their unique sound to new audiences. Whether performing as a duo or collaborating with other artists, Caroline and Tom create an unforgettable experience that resonates with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Caroline Keane & Tom Delany
The Weeds
SATURDAY MARCH 21st
8:00 pm - Headline Concert, Roundhouse
Best Western Dunmar Inn Headline Stage
Saturday, 2:15 pm - Mini Concert w/Q&A - Machine Shop Water of Life Main Stage
Join The Weeds for an unforgettable afternoon/evening of music. This March marks the release of their debut album, Supernatural, a collection of ancient Celtic melodies infused with new compositions from the trio. This acoustic trio is prepared to take you on a musical journey which begins and ends in ancient Ireland. While rooted in the Irish tradition, our trip will ‘cross the pond’ into the United States where these three accomplished instrumentalists will explore folk seasonings from Appalachian mountain hollers to occasional hints of modern jazz. The performance will also weave in cutting edge modern Celtic compositions from the trio. Hailing from Carmel, California, the Weeds consist of fiddler John Weed (Molly’s Revenge/New String Project) and sons, Tyler Weed (Mandolin, Irish tenor banjo, guitar) and Evan Weed (Celtic harp, piano, melodica). Watch the folk process unfold as John enjoys a musical conversation with two of the next generation’s rising stars. Hearing sophisticated arrangements of driving Irish jigs, reels, and slower heartfelt selections, you’ll leave uplifted, knowing the future is in good hands as Weeds Trio raises your spirits, honoring this tradition with a vital, new voice.
John Weed, fiddler for Molly’s Revenge and New World String Project, has spent the last 30 years immersed in various fiddle styles. With an affinity for folk traditions, John’s exploration has emphasized Irish, Scottish, Swedish, and Old-Time fiddle. While he holds a bachelor’s degree of music from CSU Chico, the musical education that charted his path began through a long series of Irish sessions. There, he learned the nuance of aural passing of melodies and the tradition of conversing in a deeply musical manner. John’s passion for the vital expressiveness of the session lead to performing across the United States and internationally. In addition to being a full time performer and instructor, John is currently on faculty at Palenke Arts, a multicultural arts organization in Seaside, California.
Tyler Weed was raised in a musical family. His journey began on guitar which quickly led to earning money backing his father on fiddle. He then discovered flat-picking melodies while also developing a passion for jazz. This allowed him to be equally comfortable playing in the old-world fiddle styles as well as using swing-accompaniment on Irish melodies. World Strides Heritage Festival presented Tyler with first-place Maestro Solo Guitar award in Anaheim, Ca. 2022. Heavily influenced by Bay Area mandolin great Marla Fibish, Tyler developed nuanced traditional Irish tunes on mandolin — picking patterns for the different dance tunes, tone projection, and styling, which continues in his playing today. Tyler represented the next generation of mandolin players at his performance at 2023 San Francisco Instrumental Festival of Mandolins. He has since journeyed into the world of tenor banjo. His banjo style can be characterized by ornate, percussive triplet stylings with a driving, yet hypnotic groove.
Evan Weed is the youngest in the Weeds musical clan. Like Tyler, Evan grew up on the road, accompanying his father’s touring bands to festivals, performing arts centers, house concerts, and many fiddle camps. During the pandemic, Evan completely immersed himself in a world of practice on piano, Celtic harp, jazz drumming, and Latin percussion. In addition to playing harp and melodica in John Weed’s Celtic Teen Band “The McMonarchs”, Evan worked tirelessly on piano. Evan won a position in the nationally ranked SFJazz High School All Star Big Band, becoming only the third eighth grader in four decades to be selected. Evan was later presented SFJazz Education Award spring 2024, voted on by his peers and directors for superior dedication, attitude, and musicianship. Evan’s original composition, “Ask The Professor”, was recently featured in the SFJazz winter concert after Evan arranged and orchestrated for the 19 piece big-band. Evan recently became a 2025 National Young Arts Winner in the categories of composition and jazz piano.
2026 Regional Performers
Salt Lake Scots Pipe Band
Saturday 10:15 am - Machine Shop, Water of Life Main Stage
Organized in 1962, The Salt Lake Scots Pipe Band has been entertaining crowds for more than 60 years. They celebrate a rich history as the oldest pipe bands in the State of Utah. Over the last half century the band has appeared in the United Artist’s WWII film, The Devil’s Brigade (1968) about the first joint special forces unit composed of both Canadian and U.S. soldiers. They were the official pipe band of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games where they led the competitors of the curling events onto the ice before each round of competition. That year Scotland claimed the gold medal and gave a nod to the band as having been their “secret weapon.” The Salt Lake Scots have performed with The Chieftains, the Utah Symphony, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, among many others. It has been their honor to perform for heads of state and visiting dignitaries proudly preserving the highland traditions and keeping their cultural heritage alive in the Great Basin of the Western United States.
Avourneen
Saturday 3:15 pm - Machine Shop, Aspen Cinemas Session Stage
Avourneen, (pronounced a-VORE-neen) is an ensemble out of Denver, Colorado specializing in traditional Irish, Scottish and Celtic folk music. After playing across the American West for a decade, the band has distinguished itself as one of the most innovative and popular Celtic acts in the region, having played high-profile festivals in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, New Mexico and Nevada.
The band released their first full album, Sparrow, in 2020; the release features a mix of traditional ballads, instrumentals and original compositions like Banks of the Liffey, Sparrow and Cork March. Avourneen has started recording tracks for its next full-length album due for release in early 2026, with original songs like Banks of Killarney and Doolin Waltz inspired by trips to Ireland, as well as other original compositions like Cunner Point, The South Shore and Sea Glass Beach.
The band has become a favorite featured group of the Colorado contra dance circuit – in addition to its considerable repertoire of songs and instrumentals, the band specializes in folk dance music that ranges from American roots to Irish, Scottish and other European idioms. Last year, Avourneen performed at the Roundhouse fest, led workshops and led the after-hours session.
Shanahy
Friday 6:15 pm - Machine Shop, Aspen Cinemas Session Stage
Saturday 1:15 pm - Machine Shop, Aspen Cinemas Session Stage
One of the longest-running music groups in the Intermountain region, having performed together for over 25 years, Shanahy (SHAWN-uh-hee) is a band that hails from Salt Lake City, Utah, and performs traditional songs and tunes from the British Isles–primarily Scotland and Ireland. Shanahy entertains audiences at concerts, Celtic festivals, weddings, and other celebrations. The special Shanahy sound features fiddles, highland pipes, cauldwind pipes, uilleann (Irish) pipes, whistle, flute, bodhran, guitars, and both female and male vocals. Shanahy performs traditional jigs, slip-jigs, reels, strathspeys, waltzes, airs and songs, along with a few contemporary and original pieces within the celtic style. Shanahy has released three CDs, Trip to Ballymena, Far Away and A Fair Land Lies Before Me.
The Reel Folk
Friday 4:15 pm - Machine Shop, Aspen Cinemas Session Stage
Saturday 11:15 am - Machine Shop, Aspen Cinemas Session Stage
The Reel Folk is a traditional ensemble providing a variety of Celtic, Fantasy, and Folk music to players and appreciators across the western states. They specialize in collaborating with local musicians and organizations to create unique live musical experiences, reimagining familiar and popular tunes with fresh instrumentations and styles as well as sharing brand new tunes and musical traditions to expand their audiences’ horizons.
Finch and the Magpies
Saturday 4:15 pm - Machine Shop, Water of Life Main Stage
Finch & the Magpies is a high-energy folk trio based in Utah Valley. Brought together by a mutual love of Irish folk music and the desire to share that love with others, this small ensemble produces a big sound. With fresh harmonies on fiddle and concertina, underscored by exciting and innovative guitar, they bring a modern take to traditional tunes that’s sure to have you dancing along
Callanish
Friday 3:15 pm - Machine Shop, Water of Life Main Stage
Callanish is the name of a group of standing stones in Scotland, ancient and weathered, but still evocative of the culture that created them. Callanish is also a local Salt Lake City Utah band that has weathered more than 25 years with a changing cast of musicians and focus, but still turning out Celtic and Irish Traditional music. The band currently consists of five friends using their diverse musical backgrounds to create music primarily in a traditional Celtic style. We feature John Adams on violin, Soren Green on classical and acoustic guitars, Taylor Nyx on vocals, Ben Spigle on flutes and whistles and Cindy Spigle on bodhrán. We play mostly traditional Irish and Scottish tunes augmented with a growing body of original compositions as well as non-traditional tunes played on traditional instruments. We are all constantly honing our connection to the tradition, including traveling together to Ireland to soak up the culture (and the beers and whiskeys). We are thrilled to report that we travelled to the Callanish Standing Stones in Scotland, absorbing local, authentic tunes along the way. Our music ranges from soulful to rowdy, but it’s all great fun.
